Jessica’s comment > Likes and Comments

I understand what you're saying about the overall outcome. I guess personally, everything Katniss did seemed sort of accidental. The trick with the berries at the end of the first one she was thinking of herself "I don't wanna kill Peeta/everyone will dislike me if I do/we have a great ruse going" she wasn't really thinking "Let's start a revolution" for one. She was also very inconsistent with her emotions towards Peeta. It would have been nice if she could have found something she genuinely liked about Peeta, instead of something SHE needed to survive. It never felt like there was something She truly gave Peeta in return. Frankly, it would have been more authentic to me if her and Peeta had remained friends but never ended up together.

I agree with your comment Jessica, but like C.penn said, I would have liked it better if Katniss and Peeta were just friends. (I don't think Katniss should have gotten married at all)

I Appreciate where you're coming from but in MHO I of the impression that the character had changed rather than developed due to plot. It was almost like it was written by a different author, or the same years later when the essence of the character is lost. She was always a selfish, spoilt and stubborn character, even in the first book but I really felt as if the core of the character changed into a truly dislikeable one.

*I got the impression. Sorry, autocorrect on my mobile

I understand the severe imbalance you're referring to in Peeta and Katniss' relationship and believe me, I always felt Peeta deserved better (like myself for example haha). I don't know why Collins gave us the epilogue like she did except perhaps to prove that even someone as stubborn and cynical as Katniss could develop enough to change her almost dogmatic belief in not having children.
As for your comment, Emma, I can see what you're saying too. It would be a good question to pose to Collins. If you look at my review of the book, you'll see that I feel very much the same as the others on this thread- however after teaching the series I have tamed the initial fiery judgment I had of her character to something a little more sympathizing.

I think that's a fair point.

I think one of the things that made me so miffed (I think I may be repeating myself by hey ho) is the encouragement of convenience relationships which although exists in the real world, is probably not a great thing to have in a 'young adult' book. The idea that you should choose your partner based on a catalogue of tick boxes which best suit you. And the idea of it being okay to treat someone who cares for you badly if they are stupid enough to keep coming back for more.

I understand that. I think, though, that it's unfair to believe a readership to take a book purely on such face value. I was a "young adult" when I began reading romance novels- as in mass paperback 'smut'. However, I did not grow up to think that every relationship begins with an illicit affair in the gardens and the woman surrendering her innocence, just to be saved by the handsome hero. If young adults are going to read books, especially ones with such mature topics as war and oppressive government, it is on the parent to make sure the reader understands the finer points of the novel, like the alleged encouragement of convenience relationships.
I don't know if I quite see it that way, especially if one were to focus on Peeta's character. And don't online matchmaking sites basically push that type of ideology? It seems something becoming difficult to avoid, I fear, especially as I am typically a romantic at heart.

I hate Katniss.

She was okayish in the first book. I like how she doesn't immediately believe Peeta declaration of love in his interview with Ceaser and I suppose thatit does add a twist: Katniss not being Peeta's girlfriend just like that at the end of the first book. I know that becoming in some way involved with Peeta and Gale wasn't done with intention.

In Mocking-jay I think she just proves herself to be absurdly self centered. She only thinks about how Peeat's hijacking effects her, never mind that Peeta has lost his entire family and is suffering. All she can think about is what she has lost. SELFISH, CHILDISH AND WEAK. She has no right to want Peeta to love and adore her because she didn't return any of those feelings. After everything Peeta had done for her: making her desirable before the first hunger games, keeping the careers away from her, fighting Cato to let her escape, volunteering to die at the end of the first hunger games, comforting her in the nights on the train when she had nightmares, volunteering to protect her for the quarter quell , she couldn't find it in her to want peace of mind for Peeta. Oh no all she could think of was that Peeta didn't adore her. So she has a massive pity fest in a cupboard after abandoning Peeta, which if their roles were reversed, was something Peeta would never have done. Katniss is overall a hostile and defensive and weak character. This is displayed fully when she attempts to take her own life!!

I also think they were all written very simply. I would have liked it if the book went deep into the psychology of killing other children to stay alive and then going home to live a life of luxury. But it didn't!! Not at all!!